Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the Garhwal Rifles memorial in Lansdowne on Sunday to honour the soldiers who gave their lives for India. The ceremony, called the Shaheed Samman Samaroh, drew crowds who gathered to pay floral tributes to the fallen.
At the memorial, Dhami laid wreaths at the statue of legendary hero Gabbar Singh Negi and handed copper plaques and ceremonial shawls to the families of the heroes. He inspected the Army Band and sent his best wishes to active soldiers. The CM also lit lamps over copper urns filled with sacred soil taken from the courtyards of martyrs’ homes, a tribute that will later be brought to the new Military Shrine, or Sainya Dham, being built in Dehradun.
During the event, Dhami announced several new initiatives aimed at improving life for soldiers and their dependants. These include:
* Renovation and modernisation of the Soldiers Rest House in Kotdwar.
* Creation of free Common Service Centres at the Directorate of Sainik Kalyan.
* A grant for upgrading the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre Museum in Lansdowne and the Primary Health Centre in Jaiharikhal.
The Chief Minister also revealed that several schools and roads would be renamed after martyrs, such as Government Inter College, Kartiya after Shaheed Kamal Singh Rawat, and the primary health centre in Harish Joshi village after Shaheed Harish Joshi.
In a move to support widows of World War II veterans, the policy of honorarium has been extended to all surviving veterans and their families, even if they did not receive earlier aid. The ex‑gratia amount for families of martyrs has been raised from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, and Rs 10,000 will go toward funeral costs. Soldiers can also enjoy up to a 25‑percent stamp‑duty exemption when buying land.
Dhami highlighted the state’s close ties to the armed forces, noting that almost every Uttarakhand household has a member in the military. He thanked the central government for schemes like One Rank One Pension and for supplying modern equipment, jackets, and boots to troops.
The ceremony also highlighted the success of the second phase of the Shaheed Samman Yatra, which collected sacred soil from 71 martyrs and will be placed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti before the shrine’s opening. The event was attended by Army officials and local legislators, including MLA Dilip Singh Rawat, who expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices of the heroes.
Overall, Uttarakhand’s leadership is committed to honouring its soldiers, improving their welfare, and building a lasting Military Shrine that will inspire future generations.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
